Piano-pedal.



PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

L. w. uoncnoss. PIANO PEDAL.

APPLICATION TILED 13130., 8, 1906.

Law; h m warms;

INVENTOR- VV/T/VESSES:

A TTOR/VE Y5 LEVI WATSON NORCROSS,

PIANO- Specification of Letters Patent.

OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

PEDAL.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed December 8, 1906. Serial No. 346,902.

T 0 at whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI WA'rsoN Non- CROSS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Piano-Pedal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pianos, and has for its principal object to provide an improved construction and arrangement of pedals in which the pedal member and the lever which is connected to the lifting rod are formed of a single piece of metal, preferably cast, in order to avoid the employment of separate connections and the inconvenience which results from the loosening of such connections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pedal construction in which the pedal and its lever are formed of a single piece of cast metal, the lifter rod end of the lever being counter-Weighted and serving to automat ically restroe the pedal proper to its highest position without the employment of springs or other auxiliaries.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pedal construction in which the pedal bar and lever are formed of a single piece of cast metal with a lifter rod connecting pin burned in at the lifter rod end of the lever, thus avoiding loose connections.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pedal construction in which the relatively large slots or openings in front of the piano casing are reduced in area for the purpose of preventing the entrance of mice and lessening the danger of injury from the entrance of dust or damp air.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pedal construction in which a comparatively narrow pedal bar is arranged for the reception of a separate foot piece which may be formed of burnished metal and which may be readily detached when it becomes necessary to remove the pedal and its lever.

WVith these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accomp anying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pedals of a piano showing their connections. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of the outer end of one of the pedals showing the foot lever. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the same on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicat-ecorrespond.ing parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the ordinary arrangement of upright pianos the pedal levers, the pedals proper, and the lifter rods are provided with various connections which in time wear loose, so that there is no proper adjustment with relation to the parts of the action. Another dil'li culty commonly experienced is that the relatively large openings in the front sill of the piano permit the entrance of mice, dust and damp air. In order to overcome this and other objections, each of the pedal levers L0 is formed integral with the pedal bar proper 41, the latter being arranged at a right angle to the length of the lever and being comparatively narrow, so that only a small slot will be necessary for its passage, and this slot will generally be so small as to prevent the entrance of mice, while at the same time the area of the opening is reduced in order to lessen the injury from the entrance of dust and damp air. The levers 40 are mounted at an approximately central point on brackets 42, and at that end opposite the pedal connection are provided with counter-weighted portions &3 which serve to restore the pedals to elevated position when the foot pressure thereon is relieved. In the manufacture of these levers, which are preferably formed of cast metal, a pin 44- formed of wrought iron or similar material is placed. in the mold and is burned in as the metal of the lever is cast around it. To the projecting portion of this pin is pivoted the lower end of the lifter rod 45.

To theprojecting end of the pedal is secured a foot piece 46 which preferably is formed. of a superior metal or one which will retain a polished appearance for a consider able length of time. This foot piece is provided with a vertical rib 47 which is secured to the lever by bolts 48 so that it may be readily removed whenever it becomes necessary to detach the pedal and its lever.

This construction of pedal and lever prevents the loosening of the connections usually employed, and as the lifter rod ends of the pedal levers are heaviest, the foot pieces will be automatically raised into position for use Without the necessity of employing springs or similar devices for the purpose.

I claim 1. In a piano, a pedal lever pivoted at a point intermediate its ends and having at one end an integral right-angledextension forming a pedal, the opposite end of the lever being counter-Weighted, and a lifter rod con- Ilecting member extending laterally from one side of the counter-Weighted end of said lever.

2. In a piano, an integral pedal lever and pedal formed of cast metal, and a lifter rod pin burned into the lever and projecting from that face of the lever opposite the pedal.

3. In a piano, a pivotally mounted pedal lever having at one end an integral pedal member of contracted \vidth, a detachable foot piece having a depending bolting flange at one side of its center, so that the central portion of the foot piece may be placed over the pedal member, and securing bolts extends ing through the flange and the pedal member.

In testimony that I claim the -foregoii1g as my own, I have hereto a'l'lixed my signature l in the presence of two Witnesses.

LEVI IVATSON NORCROSS.

IVitnesses J. H CUR'rIs,

i C. J. TOPPAGE. 

